by Bellus, HJ
He downs another drink, then pours one more before he goes to find Dax. It’s a short walk, and he enjoys the refreshing Denver air as he strides down the sidewalk. The East Coast boy inside him still refuses to believe he may love the Rocky Mountains more than he ever did the East.
Cole pushes the large oak door open, admiring the heavy, cast iron details on it. The place is simply beautiful and awes him every time he enters, which has been a whole whopping five times. Voices echo in the enormous ballroom as he winds his way through to find actual human beings and one who resembles his giant of a brother.
Cole chuckles to himself as he strides down the hall. Hell, a year ago he would’ve bet the family fortune on Dax being in the pen instead of this. He shakes his head and starts to believe miracles truly do happen every once in a while.
When he rounds the corner, the expansive open area is nearly breathtaking. A couple on the other side of the room are the only people in sight. And it’s obvious they’re the happy couple as they pet and poke at each other. The male keeps tickling the woman, causing a fit of giggles to ensue. Cole doesn’t want to scare them by creeping up on them. He tries to clear his throat, but the echoes of the woman’s laughter overpower him.
Time freezes for Cole, and he knows it’s impossible, but in the same moment the clicking of his dress shoes against the hardwood floor catches the couple’s attention. In slow motion, the woman turns, whipping her dark hair around. When their eyes meet, Cole does a double take, but afterward the same woman is still standing there.
It’s Jax.
His glass tumbles to the floor, shattering into tiny slivers. His hand begins to tremble, and his eyes fill with tears at the sight of her and the emotions whirling within him. Never did he think it would hurt so badly to see her again. It doesn’t help when the man with her cradles her around her hip and tugs her into his side.
A loud noise draws everyone’s attention to Dax in the doorway with his hair standing on end and his hands nervously brushing over it. When Cole makes eye contact with Dax, he sees everything he needs to in his brother’s eyes.
“Sorry, I got to go.”
Cole whirls around and takes giant, elongated steps back toward the exit and straight to the hotel. He needs a fix and to blow off some pent-up steam.
“Cole,” says Dax’s deep, familiar voice.
“Cole.” He hears the voice he dreams about every single night, but it still doesn’t stop him.
The nerve of that bitch. To not only get married, but to book her venue right next to a Made To Sin club. Granted, it’s not open and fully functional, but she knows exactly what she’s doing here. Game point given, hell game over. Congrats, Jax, you win the match of heartbreak.
Cole’s jaw clamps down at the thought of her flying here to get married. The man’s voice on the phone must have been his.
He pulls his phone from his pocket, poking the screen harder than he should, and waits for Dax to answer.
“Cole.”
“Is this why you’ve been so stand-offish, because you knew your first client was Jax?”
“Cole, listen to me.”
“No, you listen to me, fucker. I’ve always been there for you. The least you could do is stand up for me.”
“When you’re done throwing your fit, I’ll explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain, asshole.” Cole ends the call and is tempted to chuck his phone into the busy traffic. When he hears the ringer go off, he rips the phone from his pocket and about sends it sailing when he sees Kami’s name on the screen.
“What?” he growls into the phone.
“Really, Cole?”
He stops in front of a red brick building and slams his fist into the unforgiving wall. Cole doesn’t only punch the brick once, but several more times until dribbles of blood run down his knuckles and splatter onto the ground. The only thing to stop him is Kami’s voice on the other end of the phone.
“Sounds like someone pissed in your Cheerios. I went shopping for us tonight and even picked you up something that might help your attitude right now.”
Cole doesn’t respond as he collapses back on the building, tilting his head up to the sky and letting the blood from his knuckles drop to the sidewalk. Everything in his life right now just fuels his need to succeed. Before Jax, it was just business and the party life, and by god, he was on top of both worlds, and that’s exactly where he’s heading.
“Cole, are you there?”
“Yeah, heading your way now.” He pushes off the wall and starts back to the hotel.
“Are you okay, honey?” Fear and a bit of trepidation fill her voice.
“I need you tonight, Kami.”
“I’m here, Cole.”
He hangs up the phone without another word and knows it’s a dick move on his part, but if life has taught him anything, it’s not to get too attached to anyone. His phone goes off once again. He’s not ready to talk to Dax right now, or even Birdy, but when he looks down at his phone he sees Jax’s name covering the screen, and this time his phone does go sailing out into the middle of the street.
Chapter 6
Kami’s body is bound to the bed with both of her wrists tied to the headboard and her ankles bound to the footboard. She lies bared to both men, and Cole can’t help but smile at the stunning woman before him. It should bother him that Kami wants Rhett, but it doesn’t. In fact, it makes this whole thing they’re having much easier.
“So, I can just fuck her?” Rhett peels his gaze from Kami and looks toward Cole, who remains staring straight forward. Cole just nods.
“But she’s your girl.”
“She’s not mine.” Cole’s voice is flat and devoid of any emotion.
Rhett places his hand on Cole’s shoulder. “You better be sure, because once I start with, her I’ll never stop.”
“By all means.” Cole raises his hands, gesturing for Rhett to have it all.
Cole pulls his little present from Kami from his pocket and pops open the orange bottle, letting a mound of pills fall into his palm. He settles into the lounge chair , swigs back on his bottle of Jack Daniel’s and watches Kami enjoy her little present from him.
Cole’s vision blurs as the couple begin s to find their rhythm of touching, licking, and kissing. Their pleasured sounds fill the room as Cole’s eyes slowly begin to drift shut. He manages to pop a few more pills before the drug and alcohol induced state wins. The sound emanating from the couple and the scent of sex takes him back to a time with him and Jax in L.A.
Cole closes his eyes and fights away the memory of Jax and finds it’s impossible to do. He searches for his phone to call the bitch and let her know exactly what she’s done to him. Moments later , he remembers he doesn’t have a phone, and then realizes Jax was his West Coast curse, and it seems like he’s the biggest victim out of the Sterling brothers.
Cole lifts his heavy head and tries to steady it long enough to look at the scene playing out before him. When his vision finally focuses, he sees Kami on top of Rhett, riding him, and then her voice registers in his brain. She’s screaming and groping at his chest as her tits bounce up and down. Rhett’s hands are all over her, grabbing her tits, squeezing her ass, and he bucks up into her.
Cole shakes his head at the two and is partly relieved he won’t have to worry about Kami wanting to be in one of those exclusive, sappy, romantic relationships, because by the looks of it, it was another man she desired the whole time.
Chapter 7
Getting up this morning nearly killed Cole. His head throbbed and his body trembled. Kami was beside him, helping him through the shower and getting dressed for business. Cole’s day is lined up with meeting after meeting, and for that he’s thankful.
He strums the white tablecloth in the hotel restaurant while he sips on his black coffee. Images of Rhett and Kami ravishing each other keep popping up in his head, and he knows it’s time to let her go, even though she was quite eager to make it clear to him this morning she wasn’t in
terested in Rhett, but he knew better.
He gave her one of his plastic cards and told her to go have a fun day with her girls. It would give him the alone time he needed this morning before all of his meetings. The one silver lining of his day is the meetings are just a formality, no tough issues to tackle.
Cole sips on his coffee. When he hears Dax’s roar, he looks up to see Birdy a mess, bawling, and Dax chasing after her. Typically, he’d feel for the asshole and go help out the situation with Birdy, but not after yesterday. Dax drew permanent lines in their relationship.
“Hey, baby.”
Cole looks up into Kami’s gorgeous face. She’s dressed to the nines with lots and lots of sexy skin showing. He only nods back to her.
“I’m heading out. Want to do dinner tonight?”
“Nah, I have a full day.”
She perches both hands on her hips, letting her designer purse dangle from her wrist. “Are we okay, Cole?”
He hears the question, but it’s the couple that was just seated across from him that holds his attention. Cole studies Jax as she takes the seat next to her fiancé, and he notices how she pulls of f her simple beauty with no designer fashion or loads of make-up. Her smile lights up her face. Cole stares too long, and before he knows it, Jax makes eye contact with him.
He immediately pulls Kami down into his lap and wraps her up in his arms.
“We’re fine, baby.” Cole lays his lips on hers and does the most painful thing he’s ever had to do. He finally kisses Kami with no hesitation, and it’s a bittersweet moment while his lips burn with pain, but his ego soars high, knowing Jax is watching the whole show.
“Thank you,” Kami whispers against his lips.
Cole pulls back a bit farther. “For?”
“Finally kissing me and giving me Rhett.”
Cole places his palm on her cheek. “Kami, you’ve been here for me when no one else was and have helped me through countless sleepless nights. If you want Rhett…”
Her finger covers his lips before he has the chance to finish his sentence.
“I want you for now, Cole.”
He slaps her on the ass, breaking up the emotional scene about to spew from them. “Go have fun with the girls..”
“Need me to pick up anything for you?”
“You know what I like, and hell, surprise me.”
Kami presses her lips to his forehead, then she gets up and begins to walk away, but before she exits the restaurant, she turns back to him. “Cole Sterling, you’re one of a kind.”
He shakes his head and waves her off. When he finally looks back over to Jax, her eyes are full of tears, and he only smirks at her. Jax bolts from the table and runs from the restaurant. He almost feels for her, but the keyword is almost.
***
Cole’s day is an easy one, business-wise, but everything else constantly swirls in his gut. He feels like a dick for ignoring Dax and Birdy this morning, and an even bigger dick for the little show he put on in front of Jax.
Waiting in line at the Apple store, his thoughts torture him, and he knows he has to make a decision and clean his shit up. His head has throbbed all day long. The pain usually leaves him around ten in the morning, but not today. He hands tremble and he knows the only fix is a couple stiff drinks.
“Excuse me? I have cash and know exactly what I want.”
The sales associate, who has an incredibly long line, looks over the top of her glasses at him, clearly not amused.
“Seriously, I’m in a fucking hurry.” Cole throws his hands up in the air. The trembling sensation in his body heightens and he knows he’s about to lose it.
“Go ahead.” The elderly man who couldn’t decide on what size phone he wants steps to the side. Cole struts past the other customers straight up to the counter and rattles off the exact phone he needs. The associate doesn’t give him any spiels on rebates or warranty plans, rather just rings him up.
Cole snags the white box from the counter and turns to leave, but before he does, he sends a hundred dollar bill gliding across the counter in the elderly man’s direction.
“You may have money and looks, but you sure don’t have much else going for you, son.”
Cole stops dead in his tracks looking back at the man.
“Your heart is ugly. You should find a way back to the genuine part of you.”
Cole’s left hand begins trembling so bad he has to tuck it in his pocket as he stares into the man’s eyes and is haunted by his message and the honest vibe drifting from him. He doesn’t say a word as he turns to leave the store and walks back toward the hotel. It’s only a few short blocks, but now he regrets sending the limo back. He thought a short walk would help clear his head. But Cole didn’t intend on his body trying to shut down on him.
His head begins to spin as the pounding pain builds to an all-new high. A nauseated feeling attacks his whole body, and his stomach lurches. Cole clutches his head as he slides down on a bench, but his hands shake violently. Rapid-fire colors flash in his eyes, everything goes dim, and then brightens to a blinding hue.
“Cole?”
He tries to look up, but can’t force himself to do so.
“Cole, answer me.”
Again he tries to acknowledge the person speaking to him, but can’t focus. Another calm voice joins the first one.
“Cole, it’s Jax. You have to look up at me.”
He tries to form the words ‘fuck you,’ but only a long line of jumbled speech escapes him.
“Cole.” He feels a palm strike his cheek, and he finally looks up. “What day is it?”
He focuses in on Birdy and the tears streaking down her cheeks.
“I’m calling 911.”
“Yes, do,” Jax barks out as she grabs Cole’s wrist.
“Don’t touch me.” He’s shocked at how clear his words come out. The pain in his head subsides a bit.
“Cole, are you okay?” Jax kneels down before him and places both of her palms on his knees.
“Why are you here?”
“Answer my question, Cole.”
He just nods. “Now, answer mine.”
Before Jax has the chance to reply, a group of giggly women joins them. Several of them surround Birdy, asking question after question about the reason for her tears.
“Cole.” Jax uses her palm to turn his face back toward her. “What’s going on?”
He doesn’t respond as he relishes the sensation of her flesh on his, and the pounding pain that begins to fade away.
“You’re not okay. Birdy called 911, and Dax is on his way. Let me help you.”
He clenches his eyes shut and forms the words he thought he’d never have to speak. “I’ll be okay. Get back to planning your wedding with the man of your dreams.”
“What did you say?”
“You heard me, Jax. Leave me alone and get back to your fiancé. Mission accomplished by coming out here and flaunting the fact you’re getting married.”
A deep voice cuts through the growing crowd. “Where is he?” Dax pushes his way to Cole. “What the fuck is going on?”
“Just a headache, man. Get me back to the hotel.”
“No.” Jax stands. “He needs to go to the hospital.”
“Dax.” Cole looks up to his brother. “Hotel now.”
His brother looks between Jax and his crying Birdy before he grabs Cole by the elbow and escorts him over to the black Hummer. “Get in.”
Cole climbs in the back seat and waits while Dax practically carries Birdy to the Hummer and places her in the passenger seat. Once settled in, Dax turns back to Cole. “Listen, asshole. Birdy is two months pregnant and has been bleeding. The doctors think we might lose the baby. We don’t need your fucking egotistical ass causing more stress in our lives.”
Birdy’s soft sobs fill the cab of the Hummer as Dax focuses on driving. Cole leans forward, wincing in pain, and places his palm on her shoulder. “It will be okay, little Bird.”
“You should go to the ho
spital.” Birdy turns to look at him. “You were a mess when we walked up on you, and Jax thinks it could be something serious.”
His blood begins to boil with the mere mention of her name, but he fights to control his emotions. “I’m fine. It’s just a migraine. I need some rest.”
“You’ve been working your ass off, Cole, and dipping into extracurricular activities too much lately.” Dax stares at Cole through the rear view mirror.
Cole keeps his mouth shut, not wanting to fight in front of Birdy.
“Tell me more about you being pregnant, missy. I thought I was your best friend.” Cole pats her shoulder one more time before lying back in the seat and resting his still throbbing head against the headrest.
“You’ve been busy.” Her voice is sad.
“Yeah.” Cole clutches the sides of his head. “I’m sorry, Birdy, we need to get back to our nightly dates filled with chocolate cake and my grumpy ass brother.”
“Please.” She turns in the front seat and stares Cole down.
Cole lets out a defeated sigh. “I think it may be the one thing that could save me at this point.”
Dax interrupts. “You’re going to the fucking doctor even if I have to drag your ass, and I’m stopping the fucking drugs that have been floating in and out of the penthouse, and if you have a problem with it…too bad.”
“Dax…”
“And quit being a dick to Jax. You fucked up that situation. What do you expect the girl to do? Pine over you the rest of her life? Grow the fuck up, Cole.”
Cole sinks lower in his seat and shakes his head. “Kind of funny how our roles have switched.”
“It’s not funny, and I’m going to be a thorn in your fucking side until you clean your shit up.”
“Yes, Daddy,” Cole mocks with his head still titled to the ceiling of the cab.
Birdy’s laughter fills the Hummer, and when Cole looks up, she slaps her hands over her mouth as Dax scowls at her.
